Stade Street, Hythe, Kent

This charming three-bedroom cottage dates from the 1880s and is characterised by beautiful original features complemented by sensitive contemporary renovations. Stade Street is positioned mere minutes from the shingle beachfront. Stretching over 1,200 sq ft arranged over two floors, the home has been thoughtfully restored with a neutral palette that emphasises the light-filled spaces. Particular attention has been paid to the garden, which has been extensively reworked as a manicured rock garden planted with native species blooming into maturity. The house lies just outside the centre of Hythe, a lovely historic market town and Cinque Port, positioned on the edge of Romney Marsh and is within easy reach of Folkestone and Rye.

Setting the Scene

Stade Street is a pretty Art and Crafts style semi-detached terraced house with an attractive Flemish bond brick façade and peg tile roof. Further embellishment includes a decorative two-course brickwork frieze bisecting the front of the house and unique seven-over-one Queen Anne style windows topped with a cut-brick lintel and an ornamental keystone on the front façade. For more information, see the History section below.

The Grand Tour

Entrance to the house is along the side, through a charming painted picket gate. Inside, the original black and red quarry tiles run underfoot. Light filters through stained-glass panels in the peaceful front sitting room, which has exposed beams, and a cosy wood burner.

A large dining room is enhanced with the original cast-iron fireplace, exposed beams and ample built-in storage. A new kitchen has been added by the current owners with an integrated induction hob. The kitchen door also provides easy access to the garden, useful for grabbing a handful of herbs mid-recipe. A rear entrance leads into the laundry room and downstairs WC, perfect for coming in from gardening or a day out at the beach.

Upstairs, the bright hallway leads to three bedrooms. Two skylights illuminate the space, and there are lovely dado rail embellishments; stripped floorboards run throughout. At the front of the plan, the first bedroom is en suite and has a handsome original fireplace and built-in storage.

A further light-filled family bathroom features a large, glass walk-in shower and chrome towel rail. A further two bedrooms are at the rear of the plan, one overlooking the garden below.

The Great Outdoors

The walled garden has been thoughtfully designed and is planted with an assortment of indigenous coastal species, climbers and fruit trees. Established palm trees share the space with striking espalier mulberry trees. Fig trees have been planted on the south-facing wall; jasmine is beginning to climb on the opposite wall with a promise to fill the garden with delicious scents in the summer months. The dark native shingle contrasts with the lavender and species grasses set among paving stones. At the rear of the plan, a small shed provides storage and an excellent potting shed. A seating area has been created, perfect for alfresco dining on long summer evenings.

The sea is a few minutes’ walk from the front door, offering long walks along the promenade and shingle beach.

Out and About

This house is positioned at the edge of Hythe town, under 10 minutes’ walk to Waitrose, and even closer to the Royal Military Canal, Hythe and Saltwood Sailing Club and Hythe Golf Club. A hive of recreational activities and water sports, Hythe offers tennis, cricket, football, squash, bowls, swimming, sailing, fishing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, stand-up paddle-boarding, beachside yoga and boot camps, plus cycling and running clubs. There is also kayaking and row-boating along the canal.

The seafront promenade runs all the way into the centre of nearby Folkestone, known for its rich art scene and Triennial. The canal runs parallel to the beach and offers wonderful walks towards Dungeness in the other direction. One of the largest expanses of shingle in Europe, Dungeness is of international conservation importance for its geomorphology, plant and invertebrate communities and birdlife, as well as being home to Derek Jarman’s house and garden. It is part of the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) of Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay and can be visited aboard the miniature steam trains of The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway.

The house is well-positioned for exploring the Kent coast, with other beautiful beaches at Winchelsea, Camber and Pett only a short drive away. The much-loved seaside towns of Whitstable, Margate, Rye and Hastings are also all within easy reach, as is the UNESCO world heritage site and the cathedral city of Canterbury.

The M20 and national rail services from Folkestone, including the high speed line, offer quick connections to London, while the EuroTunnel to the continent is under 4 miles away.

Council Tax Band: D